Caribbean Metaverse Development: A Literature Review Perspective

Abstract

The Caribbean’s metaverse evolution accelerated due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This paper focuses on the metaverse, XR, and NFT and emphasises the Caribbean’s contribution to the virtual environment. A bibliometric analysis of metaverse-themed research identified the rapid increase in publications in 2021 and 2022 and that titles with XR (AR, VR or MR) occurred three times more than blockchain (including NFT). An evolving dataset was created based on a continuous scoping literature review of Industry 4.0 and its enabling technologies. This enables the creation of a new definition of the metaverse, understanding the UX benefits of XR and its applications' areas of foci, highlighting investment in XR-based projects, and illustrating the Caribbean-themed NFT and XR projects. This dataset revealed that UX benefits are linked to XR element features that are relevant, contextual, customised, hands-free and intuitive. It also revealed that XR applications have areas of foci that can enable machine control or data interface, designing and testing, remote support, education, customer engagement, remote collaboration or entertainment and escapism. Analysis of 54 XR papers revealed that the most popular area of focus was education (including training, learning and understanding). An evaluation of global investments in XR development showed funding ranged from USD 70K to USD 100M, and there needs to be focused financial support for Caribbean projects. This justifies continued research into factors influencing funding and encouraging Caribbean XR development. In addition, this research promotes regionally developed XR projects and NFTs. The paper's originality is the reductionist definition of the metaverse: a space designed for users by users, which can satisfy whomever, whatever, however, wherever and whenever. It manifests the user's extended reality, facilitated through XR technologies that enable Industry 4.0 (I4.0). As such, the metaverse can be considered the practical implementation of I4.0.

Analysis of Caribbean XR Survey Creates an XR Development Strategy as a Path to the Regional Metaverse Evolution

“…An online survey of qualitative categorical and free-response questions, issued from July 2021 to December 2021, captured answers from 77 Caribbean XR developers within the region to answer the question. The previous research on the evolving Caribbean metaverse development [8] provided the basis for the questionnaire. This study formulates a strategy for Caribbean XR development.…”

“…These data add value to the XR body of knowledge. It captures information from individual experiences and points to the areas needed to advance the region's XR and metaverse development [8].…”

“…91, 93]. These innovative digital products and services strengthen the Caribbean's competitiveness and sustainability and contribute to the continued evolution of the metaverse [8].…”

“…13s this process. The Caribbean's metaverse evolution began before the pandemic with the development of regional XR projects and NFTs of creatives' art, music, fashion, and collectables that enable unlimited engagement with customers throughout the global marketplace [8]. The Caribbean's interest in the metaverse and XR accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the effects of physical isolation.…”

User experience (UX) in metaverse: realities and challenges

“…This will involve working with a variety of stakeholders, including developers, designers, and users, to understand the goals and needs of the virtual environment and to create user experiences that are intuitive, engaging, and satisfying. Some specific tasks that UX professionals may be responsible for in the metaverse include: (9,10,11,12,13) 1. Conducting user research to understand the needs, preferences, and behaviors of people using the virtual environment.…”